Flat Out to stand at Spendthrift Farm

By: SPORTS NETWORK

Lexington, KY (SportsNetwork.com) - Recent Cigar Mile winner Flat Out has been retired and will stand at Spendthrift Farm in Lexington. The announcment was made Friday.

"Flat Out has proven himself to be among the elite racehorses we've seen over the course of the last three years," said Ned Toffey, General Manager at Spendthrift. "His brilliant win recently over five Grade 1 winners in the Cigar Mile is a fitting way for him to close out his tremendous racing career, and it showed he was top class among the best milers and best classic horses around.

"Physically, he's an awesome individual who's very well-balanced, handsome and correct, and his A.P. Indy sire line is obviously the preeminent sire line in North America today. We believe breeders are going to like him, and we invite everyone to come out to the farm to see him."

Owned by Preston Stables, Flat Out won the Jockey Club Gold Cup in 2011 and 2012. Along with winning the Cigar Mile this year, the 7-year-old won the Suburban Handicap on July 6 at Belmont Park and the Westchester Handicap on April 27.

On Nov. 2, he finished eighth to Mucho Macho Man in the Breeders' Cup Classic at Santa Anita one year after finishing third in the race behind Fort Larned.

"Flat Out possesses the tremendous heart and talent that is only found in the truly top-class racehorses, and he proved that with his honesty, consistency, and ability to overcome. I'd have to rank him number one among the most exciting horses I've raced," said owner Art Preston. "Spendthrift is an established stud farm with great history and class, and Wayne (Hughes) has been an innovator with his breeding programs. I'm making a plan to breed some mares to Flat Out and it should be a lot of fun."

Flat Out, trained by Bill Mott, won nine of 29 career starts for $3,645,383.